“The Godfather”

Actor Joe Mantegna says that, for him, â€œThe Godfatherâ€ trilogy is the Italian â€œStar Wars.â€ The American Film Institute calls â€œThe Godfatherâ€ the second greatest American film (â€œCitizen Kaneâ€ ranks No. 1).

This week, remastered versions of the three films are available as â€œThe Godfather: The Coppola Restorationâ€ in a five-disc DVD set, four-disc Blu-ray set or individually.

The colors look richer. Portions of faces previously buried in shadow are visible, although the series pervading darkness, by design, remains.

The graininess is about the same as in previous versions, and Iâ€™m not sure thereâ€™s a need to upgrade unless youâ€™re a huge fan â€“ or a collector. The captivating performances (Brando, Pacino, DeNiro et al) and storytelling swoop you up in any rendition, even VHS.

On the other hand, the new set costs about the same as a tank of gas. And this is â€œThe Godfatherâ€ Coppola wants you to see. Go with your heart.

Extras: A short on the restoration is interesting but thick with techno-jargon; new shorts on the series in retrospect and obstacles to getting the first film made are fun; much more.

Clooney passes

George Clooneyâ€™s cocksure, grinning face shows up in almost every frame of â€œLeatherheads,â€ a frothy screwball comedy about the early days of pro football.

Set in 1925, the picture lacks pop but provides an affable – as in C+/B- – diversion because of its appealing stars: Renee Zellweger as an ambitious reporter; John Krasinski as a boy-next-door-type war hero and college grid star; and Clooney as an aging pro player-manager out to sign the war hero to give his flailing sport a little respectability and a big boost at the box office.

Scenes pegging to a possible scandal put cement boots on the storytelling.

Clooney, who also directs, creates a handsome period piece that captures the look of the times and the grittiness of the game. But if you see it, do so with low expectations.

As Big Apple columnist Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker spends the first half of â€œSex and the City: The Movieâ€ trying on frilly frocks to amuse herself and her friends Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda (Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon) and posing in fancy wedding dresses for a magazine spread.

And thatâ€™s why God created fast-forward.

The second half, where Carrie â€“ scheduled to marry Mr. Big (Chris Noth) – and her buds deal with relationship dissatisfaction and betrayal delivers enough substance to turn the film into a fairly satisfying fantasy; do you know anyone who dresses like them? Or can afford to? (If you do, introduce me.)

â€œDreamgirlsâ€™â€ Jennifer Hudson adds a dose of earthiness as Carrieâ€™s new assistant.

Bottom line: Nice to see them again despite the fashion madness. Also in Blu-ray and two-disc versions.

Extras:: filmmakerâ€™s commentary; shorts on fashion and more on second disc.

Also on DVD

“Deception”: Ewan McGregor, a naive accountant, gets in trouble with the law after his slick, lawyer friend Hugh Jackman takes him to a secret sex club. (Also on Blu-ray.)

“Midnight Eagle”: Photographer tries to save the world after witnessing a bomber carrying deadly material crash in the Alps; in Japanese.

“Mother of Tears“: Asia Argento reluctantly confronts a nasty witchy woman in the dumb-but-watchable end to her dadâ€™s (Dario Argento) “Three Mothers” trilogy.

“The Neighbor”: Matthew Modine gets bent out of shape when he learns his ex-wifeâ€™s going to marry his best friend and his feud with his pretty upstairs neighbor escalates â€” so he takes her to his exâ€™s wedding.

“Pathology“: Med students working in a morgue compete to see who can commit the perfect murder; with Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes”).

“Run, Fat Boy, Run”: Out-of-shape Simon Pegg (“Shaun of the Dead”) competes in the London Marathon to win back Thandie Newton
from her current beau Hank Azaria.

“Shrek the Third”: Green ogre on Blu-ray.

“Snow Angels”: Divorced couple (Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell)
with child and high school couple in first romantic relationship have troubles, deal with them.

“Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat Special Edition”: Cute, campy contemporary horror Western about rival groups of undead trying to go straight with synthetic blood; with Bruce Campbell and David Carradine.

“Water”: Documentary claims intentions can change the structure of water and thoughts can alter environment; so what else is new?